Western National Parks Association

In partnership with the National Park Service since 1938, Western National Parks Association (WNPA) advances education, interpretation, research and community engagement to ensure the national parks are increasingly valued by everyone.

Today, a child will smell pine needles for the first time. A park visitor will hike through archaeological sites and connect with an ancient culture. A family will see a condor soar and learn how research has helped to protect it. A park ranger will introduce campers to the stories written in the stars.

WNPA, a nonprofit education partner of the National Park Service (NPS) since 1938, provides vital support that helps ensure the future of the national parks for everyone. WNPA partners with more than 70 parks across 12 states in the West to meet their greatest needs in educating youth, building advocacy, and raising awareness of these special places.

To ensure that our national parks remain relevant to the next generation, WNPA funding supports park-based education programs like the Junior Ranger program. In 2017, we helped more than 35,000 children explore, learn about, and protect our national parks.

Through the Junior Ranger program, kids complete a variety of park-specific activities, such as seek and find games, identifying plants and animals, or watching the recent solar eclipse. When they are finished, they are sworn in by NPS rangers and earn a Junior Ranger badge and certificate. Parks use funding from WNPA to purchase badges and certificates, provide activities, and design and print Junior Ranger booklets.

IN CELEBRATION OF OUR 80TH ANNIVERSARY, OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $80,000 TO HELP 80,000 KIDS BECOME JUNIOR RANGERS!

WNPA is dedicated to providing more resources to make sure kids from all backgrounds have the chance to visit and connect with the parks. Each dollar you give will provide one child with the opportunity to become a Junior Ranger.

Testimonials

"I don't have a favorite national park because they're all my favorites! They each gave me a different memory and taught me something unique about the park. I could never choose just one." - Aida, Junior Ranger

"It was so awesome! The ladder was slippery and it was pitch black." - Nathanael, Junior Ranger, describing the kiva at Pecos National Historic Park

"I like earning rewards by doing all that hard but mostly fun stuff." - David, Junior Ranger